Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1887-12-08

ing, necessary, and there appears
to b NO just cause for complaint
by consumers Of tho articles, and
there seems to be nothing 80 we'll able
to bear the burden without hardship to
any portion of the people. But our
present tariff laws-the various inequi.
tai ls and illegal sources of unnecessary
taxation, ought to be at once revised
aud amended These laws, IN their
primary and plain effect, raise the price
to consumers Of all articles imported
and subjected to duty, by precisely the
sum paid for such duties Thus the
amount of the duty measures the tax
paid by those who purchase for use
these imported articles.
Under our present laws more than
four thousand articles are subject to du-
ty. Many of these do not in any way
compete with our own manufactures,
and many ar. hardly worth attention as
subjects of revenue. A considerable re-
duotion can be made in the aggregate by
adding them to the free list. The taxa
ton OF luxuries presents no features of
hardship. but the neoessaries OF life used
and consumed by all the people, the
duty upon which adds to the cost of
living in every home, should te greatly
cheapened. The radical reduction of
the duties imposed upon raw material
used in manufactures or its free impor-
tation, is, of course, an important factor
in any effort to reduce the price of these
necessaries- 1t would not only relieve
them from the increased cost caused by
tariff on such material, but the manu-
featured product being cheapened, that
part of the tariff now laid upon such
product, as a compensation TO our
manufacturers for the present price of
raw material could be accordingly moh-
fed. Such reduction. or free -importa-
ton. would serve beside to largely re-
duce the revenue.
1t is not apparent how such change
can have any injurious effects upon our
manufacturers. On the contrary, 1t
would appear to give them a better
chance in foreign markets with the
manufacturers of other countries, who
cheaper their wares by-free material.
With reference to departure in this
instance from the usual custom of the
executive in Incorporating in his mes
sage general information as to the state
Of the Union, Mr.. Cleveland refers to
the reports of heads Of departments for
full and explicit information touching
the business Entrusted to them, and
says:
at has been the custom OF the execu'
tive, in compliance with r. provision OF
the Constitution, to annually exhibit t.
Congress, at the ope ming OF its session
the general condition Of the country
and to detail with some particul.rit,
the operations Of the different executive
departments. 1t would be especially
agreeable to follow this course at thu
| present time and TO call attention to tn,
valuable accomplishments Of the depart
ments during the fiscal year; but an
so nuch impressed with the paramount
Importance Of the subject to which thi
communication has thus far BEEN de
voted, that shall forego the addition
Of any other topic, and only urge, upor
your immediate consideration the stat
Of the union, "a shown in the presen
condition of our treasury, and our gen.
eral fiscal situation, upon which ever.
element Of our safety and prosperit,
dependst''
II